Is there such a phenomenon as a woman leader? Or are there only leaders who happen to be women? The question would have been totally irrelevant a few decades ago but now..take a look around. Women are occupying top positions in their careers today. Corporates are realising the advantages of women governance. The business world is all geared to woo women into their fold. The revolution has happened. For women who are or aspire to be leaders in their careers, the time is just right. Here are some helpful ideas for women who want to lead from the front.

Be yourself - It is very important to know yourself. Do not let others define you. There could be many times in your career when you may be told what you should do or not do as a woman manager. Go with your natural inclinations. Don't stop thinking like a woman. Cherish your uniqueness.

Be brutally honest in assessing your strengths and weaknesses. It is only when you are true to yourself, can you have the confidence to succeed.

Speak out, Speak up - If you want to be a leader, being seen is not enough. You must also be heard. Unfortunately, business still pays homage to the male voice. Do not let that silence you! Take a deep breath and speak up, speak out, give voice to your ideas. It's critical to be heard. So be persistent.

Belong to the team - You don't have to be seen playing golf or drinking beer in order to make your place in a man's world. Pursue only those extracurricular activities that interest you and build your network around them.

Take failure in your stride - Life as a leader is not all about success. Just as it takes courage to succeed, it also takes courage to face failure. Getting emotional or bitter about failure is not going to get you anywhere. You need to learn from it.

Take the risks - It is a woman's nature to be cautious, particularly with career decisions. But in business, you need to take risks. You need to gamble. Tackle the tough jobs. Set aggressive goals and plan on meeting them. Above all, don't develop a victim mind-set where everything is someone else's fault. Take control of your destiny, make your own decisions, and accept the consequences.

Defy expectations - If you are a woman leader, you will be in the spotlight in more ways than one. Expectations will be higher and your skills will be sorely tested. Maybe, as a woman, you will be constantly challenged to prove yourself. Every mistake you make will be magnified. Don't let that get you down. Acknowledge your mistakes, extract the lessons, and move on.

Remember, as a woman leader, you will represent all women. Your success will be their success. They will follow their leader. Acquire these leadership qualities. Make the effort to lead from the front.

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